What is The Shop?
The Shop is a public space for making, learning, and building community. We are located next to the South Novato Library and we're free for all to visit and use.
We offer a wide range of tools and activities for patrons of all ages, such as woodworking, painting, bicycle maintenance, sewing and more.
Our staff are more than happy to assist you with any project you are working on or trade you would like to learn, within our availability. This is your space to create!
We are also here to assist schools and community groups with their learning goals and we're always excited to collaborate.
The Shop is a place where community and creativity come together.
Learn more about what we do and what we have at The Shop below. Still have questions? Send us an email or give us a call.
Location
Drop-In Hours
Level 1
& 2 |
Level 3 | |
Monday | Closed | Closed |
Tuesday | 2 - 4:30 | 4:30 - 6 |
Wednesday | 2 - 4:30 | 4:30 - 6 |
Thursday | 1 - 3:30 | 3:30 - 5 |
Friday | Closed | Closed |
Saturday | 11 - 1:30 | 1:30 - 3 |
Sunday | Closed | Closed |
LEVEL 1 vs LEVEL 2 vs LEVEL 3
In order to guarantee maximum assistance and safety, we have separate times for different activities. Levels 2 and 3 programs require a training and waiver, while Level 1 programs do not.
What is Level 1?
Level 1 programming is our general arts and crafts level and takes place during the first portion of the day. This is a good time for painting, sewing and crafting other creative ideas. It's also a good time for some maintenance for a bike or other appliances you’ve been meaning to take the time to fix. All the materials and tools needed during this time require little to no training and do not need a waiver.
What is Level 2?
Level 2 programming also takes place during the first portion of the day. These are crafts that may require more advanced tools, such as saws, hammers, box cutters or knives. These are typically much better for more experienced users in the shop and will require a waiver and brief training to ensure safety for the user, the tool, and everyone else around.
What is Level 3?
Level 3 programming only occurs at the end of each day for the last portion of the day. This is a time where power tools will be allowed to be used and those projects will take priority over others. All users are still allowed to enter The Shop during that time, but may be required to use dust, noise, and eye protection at any given time due to the tools potentially being used at that moment. Anyone using power tools will require a waiver and training first.
Waiver
Required for Levels 2 and 3 programs, materials, tools and activities.
Guidelines
- No users under the age of 8 allowed inside without a parent or guardian.
- All power tools must be checked out by staff before use and users must pass a brief training.
- No food allowed inside.
- No earphones while inside the shop.
- Open toed shoes are not allowed around power tools.
- Activities involving power tools or chemicals may require safety equipment.
- No tools may leave the shop under any circumstances.
- No raw materials may be taken from The Shop under any circumstances.
- All materials are available for use in the shop, but stock is limited. For larger personal projects you may be requested to provide those materials yourself.
- Consistent waste of materials is prohibited and may lead to removal from the program.
- In the event of an emergency, all projects must immediately come to a stop and the shop must be vacated.
- All users are responsible for their own mess in The Shop. Leaving without cleaning will result in a ban from using that tool or material.
- Levels 2 and 3 programming requires a waiver, and a waiver is good for one year. All users over the age of 18 must sign a waiver and users under the age of 18 need a parent or guardian to complete the waiver.
- No weapons of any kind will be made inside the shop or brought inside the shop.
Tools
Level 1 Tools:
Allen keys, torque keys, torque wrench, flathead screwdrivers, Phillips screwdrivers, plyers, clamps, spanners, scale, measuring tape, calipers, wire cutters, glue sticks, paint brushes, sewing needles, sewing machines, serger, crochet hooks, knitting needles, sticker maker, hole punch, letter punch, button maker
Level 2 Tools:
Hand saws, hand planes, whittling knives, drawknife, hammers, box cutters, chisels, heat gun, staple gun, spokeshave
Level 3 Tools:
Handheld power tools:
Drill, circular saw, reciprocating saw, jigsaw, trim router, dremel, orbital sander, nail gun
Bench tools:
Compound miter saw 8”, drill press, belt sander, planer/jointer 12”, lathe, bandsaw
Teachers & Community Groups
If you are a teacher or a community group leader looking to expand your learning goals and curriculum with us, please send us an email at: SNO@marincounty.org. We can visit you, or even better you can visit us and have full access to our menu of hands on learning.
- Woodworking/Woodturning
- Blueprint design
- Painting
- Hand Tools 101
- Power Tools 101
- Fun with Magnets
- Fix My Own Clothes
- And more!